Singer Elain Morales performs to end domestic violence

Cuban singer-songwriter Elain Morales, nominated this year for two Latin Grammy Awards, is kicking off the second stage of a campaign against domestic violence.

As part of the Sin Pasaje de Regreso (No Return Ticket) campaign, Morales is giving a concert Thursday at the James L. Knight Center in Miami. The price of admission becomes a donation to the cause.

The artist will perform numbers from his album "Volando Alto" (Flying High), including the song composed by Jorge Luis Piloto that gives the Sin Pasaje de Regreso campaign its name.

It was precisely during the recording of this album that Morales became acutely aware of the abuse problem.

"At that time I had a case of domestic violence very near me. I'd rather not go into detail, but I can say it made me very aware of the problem," he told EFE.

"I want families to understand they can't let that explosive kind of energy into the home. I have two kids, a girl and a boy of 10 and 15 years old, who I'm watching grow up and I want to leave them a legacy beyond what is material," he said about the subject that concerns him.

Morales grew up between the Havana suburb of Santiago de Las Vegas and the Jesus Maria neighbourhood in the Cuban capital, with music his passion since the time he was little.

In the year 2000 he arrived in the US and in 2001 he launched his career as a soloist. The album "El Disfraz de la Luz" (The Disguise of Light) made his name internationally.

Now he's celebrating and says he can scarcely believe the fact that "Volando Alto" has received two nominations for the prestigious Latin Grammy Awards in the Best New Artist and Best Contemporary Tropical Album categories.

"This is like a gift. I'm living in a very beautiful moment. This disc is a compiling of all my musical experiences and has elements of rhythms from Cuba, Brazil, jazz - it's the sound of music of the world," said this bachelor, who describes himself as "married to my art".